Submitted by James M. Burton

The New-York Times
VOL. XIII - NO. 3801.
NEW-YORK, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1863.
GEN. BURNSIDE'S SITUATION.

Interesting Statements by Col. Leisure.

Col. Leisure, of the Roundhead (Pa.) regiment, who left Knoxville on Nov. 11, has given the Pittsburgh Chronicle the following interesting information regarding Burnside's give Longstreet situation.

"That General says that Burnside has been all along aware that a movement was to be made against him, and that the late fight at Campbell's Station, and other points between Loudon and Knoxville, was not so much to allow his trains to get off as to afford his outlying posts, &c., to concentrate at Knoxville. Tols have been successfully done, and Burnside's force now amounts, we are glad to say, to full 30,000 men. This includes, however, new levies of East Tennesseeans, who, although individually brave, are ignorant, badly drilled, and generally unreliable when hard pressed. Burnside had plenty of guns and ammunition, and can hold Knoxville against four times his numbers. Some of the best ballerice in the service, including one of 20-pound Parrotts, is with him, while the formidable fortifications stretching in a semi-circle a couple of miles from the town, and constructed by the rebels against us, have been materially strengthened under directions of Col. Fos.

It is a mistake to suppose Knoxville closely invested. Longstreet is only on the Burnside's north side, while the south and all region across the Holston River is open to us. This distract is full of forage, corn, wheat, &c. Burnside has all the rails. He also has fortified the heights immediately across the river, and his batteries command for four miles the only practicable roads of approach to the city on that side.

It is by this route Burnside's telegraph to Cumberland Gap runs, by which he communicates with Grant, and it is by this route he could retreat to Cumberland Gap if the rebels pressed him too hard. The most reliable troops with Burnside are the Ninth army corps, now numbering about twelve thousand men. He has abundance of cavalry, under Gen. Shackelford, the commander who chased Morgan through Ohio, and altogether is able to give Longstreet a hard tassle.

Gen. Leircas states that not only has Burnside entire confidence in his position, but that his whole army have entire confidence in him, and will hear of his being relieved with great regret. It is probable that by this time the railroad between Cleveland and Loudon, by which Longstreet came, and must get all his supplies has been cut either by Grant's or Burnside's cavalry; and if this be the case, Longstreet will have a 'very hard road to travel.' He has already been punished severely, and it will be a singular thing if, between Sherman and Burnside, he be not caught in a trap which will finish his campaign for some time to come.

The troops which were probably intended to reinforce Longstreet from Lee, via Lynchburgh and Jonesboro, have doubtless been recalled to Gordonsville, by Meade's threatened advance. Meade is waiting on the banks of the Rapidan, to strike at Lee whenever that General shows any symptoms of weakening himself to strengthen either Bragg or Longstreet, so that the situation appears to be satisfactory all around. Longstreet's force is composed chiefly of Alabamians and Georgians, but with the exception of Burnside's division, the rest are not the best troops in the South. Besides, even supposing his railroad communications uncut, he will have to wagon all his supplies over most wretched roads for over thirty miles. This he cannot do long, so that if he be not overwhelmed, we may soon expect to hear of his speedy retirement.